Combined ejector and indicator for film handling apparatus



y 5, 1942- e. o. HELBING ETAL ,0

COMBINED EJECTOR AND INDICATOR FOR FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April26, 1939 r u 23 34 i 32 A TTORNE S Patented May 5, 1942 STATES PATENTOFFICE COMBINED EJECTOR AND INDICATOR FOR FILM HANDLING APPARATUSGrayson 0. I-Iclbing and Aloysius E. Lechleitner, Rochester, N. Y.,assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation ofUNITED New Jersey Application April 26, 1939, Serial No. 270,124

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combined indicating means andejecting means for a film handling apparatus of the magazine type andmore particularly to an indicating means and ejecting means which haveat least one element in common.

While ejectors and indicators per se are well known in the art, thecombination thereof particularly so that said indicating means andejecting means have common elements has not previously been proposed.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of acombined indicating means for indicating an operating condition of afilm handling apparatus and an ejecting means for displacing the filmmagazine with respect to said apparatus, both of which means include anelement constituting an operative part thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combinedindicating means and ejecting means including a common element which ismovable in one sense to indicate an operating condition of a filmapparatus and which is movable in another sense for displacement of afilm loaded with a film magazine and having the camera cover in openposition.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross section through the combinedindicating means and ejecting means and taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section similar to that of Fig. 2 but showingthe operation of the ejecting means.

Fig. 4 is also a fragmentary section through the ejecting means andindicating means and showing the common element during re-settin of theindicating means.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing a common element of the indicatingmeans and of the ejecting means in the ejecting position.

For purposes of illustration, the invention is shown herein as appliedto a magazine camera and as including a combined footage indicatingmeans and ejecting means, however, it is to be understood that theinvention is equally adaptable to all kinds of film handling apparatusof the magazine type and to all kinds of indicating means for indicatingan operating condition of magazine with respect to said apparatus. theapparatus.

A further object of the invention is the provi- The film handlingapparatus may comprise a sion of a combined indicating means andejectcasing l0 carrying an objective assembly H and ing means includinga common element which a casing cover 12 which may be connected byco-operates with parts on the casing of a film hinges I3 to the casingl0. Said cover l2 may handling apparatus to prevent displacement of alsobe detachably fastened to casing ill in cona film magazine by theejecting means until the ventional fashion. Said casing ID has aninindicating means has been moved to a predeterternal longitudinallyextending mechanism plate mined position. M which forms one wall of amagazine cham Other and further objects of the invention will ber 15. Afront compartment it; forms the front be suggested to those skilled inthe art by the wall of said magazine chamber l5, while the defollowingdescription. pending flange ll of a panel I8 forms the rear The aboveand other objects of the invention wall of said magazine chamber l5. Anupstandare embodied in a film handling apparatus of ing wall IS onmechanism plate l4 includes a the magazine type and comprising incombinapair of lugs 20 and also supports a spring memtion a casingproviding a magazine chamber, bar 2| which is fastened to the top ofwall I!) an indicating means for indicating an operating y screws 22 andwhich has a bend 2| for encondition of the apparatus, an ejecting meansgaglng one Wall Of fi magazlne 23 a d o for displacing a film magazinewith respect to locating the same within the magazine chamber themagazine chamber, an element mounted for g s g g fi fi i g fig g g gg ig? g; rotatlon and f *P movement and constlftutnig mounted or the areaencircled by ring 24 may be of Sam Indicating and 0 i prepared in othersuitable ways to receive pencil ejecting means, and co-operating partson said ink marks element and on said casing and for preventing Forproper and efficient Operation of a film axial movement of Sald elementexcept a handling apparatus it is necessary that certain determinedrotational position thereofoperating conditions thereof be known to theop- Reference is hereby made t0 the accompanying erator. Such operatingcondition is indicated by drawing wherein similar reference characterssome type of indicating means which for the purdesignate similarelements and wherein: poses of the present disclosure only is shown asFig. 1 is a side elevation of a magazine camera a footage indicator.Such indicating means may comprise a spindle 26 having an enlargedportion 26' which is journaled in a bushing 21 on the mechanism platel4. A gear 28 is fastened to one end of spindle 26 and meshes with ageared member of the camera operating mechanism, not shown but ofconventional design. A washer 29 is attached to the other end of spindle26 by a screw 30 which is threaded into the end of spindle 26. Anoperating member 3| is slidably and rotatably mounted upon spindle 26and comprises a peripheral rim 32, a sleeve portion 33, an inclinedsurface 34, a serrated ring 35, a peripheral sector 36 and is providedwith a central recess 31. A plurality of graduations 38 andcorresponding numerals are engraved or otherwise provided on saidinclined surface 34. A collar 39 is mounted on spindle 26 and a coilspring 40 encircles spindle 26, the sleeve portion 33 of operatingmember 3| and a sleeve portion of collar 39 normally to urge saidoperating member 3| and the upper surface thereof toward or intofrictional engagement with the washer 29. The panel I9 is provided withan opening 4| through which the graduated surface 34 of the operatingmember 3| may extend and said panel l8 carries an index mark 42 forregistering with the graduations 38 on said operating member 3|.

It is quite evident that rotation of gear 28 by the camera operatingmechanism will also rotate spindle 26, washer 29 and, through thefrictional connection caused by the pressure of operating member 3|against washer 29, will result in rotation of said operating member 3|.In this manner the film footage advanced through the apparatus will beindicated opposite the index mark 42. The frictional connection betweenwasher 29 and operating member 3| will permit re-setting of the footageindicator as desired.

Since the indicating means just described is on or at the internal panelI8, said indicating means could not be observed when the casing cover l2was closed. Consequently, said cover I2 is provided with a window 43which lies over the index mark 42 when cover I2 is closed and whichpermits observation of the graduations 38 which are adjacent to oropposite said index mark 42.

The ejecting means may comprise an ejector arm 44 which is pivotallymounted by a pin 45 between the lugs 20 of wall l9. Said ejector arm 44has a projection 46 on one end thereof and movable from a slot 4'! inmechanism plate l4, see Fig. 2, into the magazine chamber l fordisplacement of a film magazine 23 with respect to said magazine chamber5, see Fig. 3. The other end of ejector arm 44 is adjacent theperipheral rim 32 of operating member 3|. Said ejector arm 44 is movedby insertion of the film magazine 23 into the position shown in Fig. 2but further movement of the ejector arm is prevented by the stop pin 48.Such free mounting of the ejector arm 44 insures that there will be nointerference with the insertion of the film magazine 23. When it isdesired to remove the film magazine 23 from the magazine chamber IS, theoperating member 3| is moved axially of spindle 26 against the action ofcoil spring 40 and peripheral rim 32 engages and moves the upper end ofejector arm 44 so that the projection 46 thereon moves into the magazinechamber and displaces the film magazine 23, see Fig. 3.

Thus it will be seen that the operating member 3| constitutes an elementboth of the indicating means and of the ejecting means. In other Words,the operating member 3| is rotated upon operation of the apparatus sothat the graduations 38 are rotated with respect to index mark 42 toindicate an operating condition or film footage advancement of theapparatus. Also operating member 3| may be moved axially on spindle 26for actuation of the ejector arm 44 and displacement of the filmmagazine 23. Said operating member 3| is consequently moved in arotational sense as part of the indicating means and in an axial orlongitudinal sense as part of the ejecting means.

In order to remind the operator that the indicating means should bere-set for each new magazine inserted, certain inter-locks are providedso that the ejecting means can be operated only after certain re-settingoperations have been performed. An abutment arm 49 and a stop member 50are mounted in a recess 5| in the top of wall l9 and are fastened tosaid wall l9 by a screw 52. The abutment arm 49 is located just underpanel I8 and engages the forward end of peripheral sector 36, see Fig.2, when the operating member 3| is rotated in a clockwise direction,indicated by the arrow of Fig. 5, and when said operating member 3| isin its outermost axial position and in engagement with washer 29.Assuming that the indicating means was originally set with thegraduation opposite index mark 42, then after a complete run of the filmmagazine the forward end of peripheral sector will engage and be blockedby the abutment arm 49. During all of this time it is not possible tomove operating member 3| in an axial direction sufficiently to move theejector arm 44 into the magazine chamber |5 because the stop member isunder the peripheral rim 32 and prevents such ejecting axial movement ofoperating member 3|. Said operating member 3| may, however, be displacedaxially a sufficient distance so that peripheral sector 36 clears theabutment arm 49 and the operating member may be manually rotated tobring the 0 graduation opposite index mark 42. At this time a notch 53provided in peripheral rim 32 is opposite the stop member 50 and theoperating member 3| may now be moved axially a sufiicient distance tooperate the ejecting means or to move ejector arm 44 so that itsprojection 46 will displace the film magazine 23.

In the event that it is desired to remove a film magazine before it hasbeen completely exposed, the operating member 3| must be rotated andslightly depressed before the member 3| can be moved to the 0" positionand so that the ejecting means can be operated. As a result, theoperator will be reminded to record the used or unused film footage ofthat magazine upon the paper disk 25 of magazine 23. Then when apartially used magazine is re-inserted into the camera, the member 3| ofthe indicating means may be re-set to the corresponding position so thatno film will be wasted.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the frictionalconnection between spindle 26 and operating member 3| is dis-engagedwhen the member 3| is depressed axially so that resetting of thegraduated operating member 3| may be more readily accomplished. Alsosuch dis-engagement of the friction connection eliminates any tendencyto turn spindle 26 and gear 28 during such re-setting of the indicatingmeans.

Obviously, the multiple functions of the operating member 3| simplifiesthe construction and operation of the combined indicating means andejecting means of the invention. The coil spring 40 also serves a dualpurpose, one to mainturn said operating member 3! to a non-ejectingposition after a film magazine has been removed. Many variations ormodifications of the disclosed constructions are possible but are withinthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now particularly described our invention what we desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States and what we claim is:

1. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber, and an indicating means onsaid casing and for indicating an operating condition of said apparatus,of an ejecting means on said apparatus and for displacing a filmmagazine with respect to said magazine chamber, and an elementconstituting a part of said indicating means and movable in one sense toindicate said operating condition of the apparatus, and constitutingalso a part of said ejecting means and movable in another sense fordisplacement of a film magazine with respect to said magazine chamber.

2. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber, and an indicating means onsaid casing and for indicating an operating condition of said apparatus,of an ejecting means on said apparatus and for displacing a filmmagazine with respect to said magazine chamber, and an element mountedfor rotation and for axial movement, constituting a part of saidindicating means and rotatable to indicate said operating condition ofthe apparatus, and constituting also a part of said ejecting means andmovable axially to operate the same for displacement of a film magazinewith respect to said chamber.

3. In a film handling apparatus of th magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber, and an ejecting meansincluding an arm movable into said magazine chamber for displacement ofa film magazine, of an indicating means on said casing and comprising aspindle, a friction abutment thereon, and a graduated member axiallymovable on said spindle for actuation of said arm of the ejecting means,and a resilient member normally urging said graduated member againstsaid friction abutment and opposing axial movement of said graduatedmember.

4. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber and having a panel adjacentsaid chamber and provided with an opening, and an ejecting meansincluding an arm movable into said magazine chamber for displacement ofa film magazine, of an indicating means on said casing and including agraduated member movably mounted with respect to said panel and foractuating said arm of the ejecting means, and a resilient membernormally urging said graduated member into the opening of said panel.

5. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber, an indicating means on saidcasing and for indicating an operating condition of said apparatus, andan ejecting means in said casing and for displacing a film magazine withrespect to said magazine chamber, of an element mounted for rotation andfor axial movement and constituting a part of said indicating means andof said ejecting means, and cooperating parts on said element and onsaid casing and for preventing axial movement of said element except ina predetermined rotational position thereof.

6. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber, an indicating means on saidcasing and for indicating an operating condition of said apparatus, andan ejecting means in said casing and for displacing a film magazine withrespect to said magazine chamber, of an element mounted for rotation andfor axial movement, constituting a part of said indicating means and ofsaid ejecting means, and having a peripheral rim provided with a notch,and a stop member on said casing for engaging said rim to prevent axialejecting movement of said element unless said notch is in registry withsaid stop member.

7. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber and carrying an index mark,and an ejecting means on said apparatus and for displacing a filmmagazine with respect to said magazine chamber, of a footage indicatingmeans including a graduated member mounted for axial and rotatablemovement, axially movable for actuation of said ejecting means andindicating in various rotatable positions the film footage that had beenmoved through said apparatus, and provided with a notch in definiterelation to a predetermined footage graduation on said member, and astop member located on said casing normally to engage and prevent axialejecting movement of said graduated member but arranged to enter saidnotch when said graduated member is rotated to bring said predeterminedfootage graduation opposite said index mark and is axially moved foractuation of said ejecting means. v

8. In a film handling apparatus, the combination with a casing having apanel provided with an opening, an index mark on said panel adjacentsaid opening, and a footage indicator including a disk member mountedfor axial and rotatable movement, having a plurality of graduationsarranged with an annular gap between the extreme graduations andincluding a peripheral sector equal in angular extent to said angulargap, of an abutment located on said casing to engage said peripheralsector when one extreme graduation registers with said index mark butdisengaged when said disk member is axially displaced and rotated tobring the other extreme graduation opposite said index mark.

9. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine typ the combination witha casing providing a magazine chamber, and an ejecting armintermediately pivoted in said casing and having one end arranged toenter said magazine chamber and for displacing a film magazine therein,of an indicating means including a spindle and a graduated memberrotatably and axially movable on said spindle and arranged upon axialmovement thereof to engage the other end of said ejecting arm and tomove said one end thereof into said magazine chamber.

10. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber, and an ejecting armintermediately pivoted in said casing and having one end arranged toenter said magazine chamber and for displacing a film magazine therein,of an indicating means including a spindle and a graduated memberrotatably and axially movable on said spindle and arranged upon axialmovement thereof to engage the other end of said ejecting arm and tomove said one end thereof into said magazine chamber, and a coil springencircling said spindle and normally urging said graduated member into anon-ejecting position.

11. In a film handling apparatus of the magazine type, the combinationwith a casing providing a magazine chamber and having a panel adjacentthereto, and indicating means for indicating an operating condition ofsaid apparatus, and an ejecting means for displacing a film magazinewith respect to said chamber, said indicating means and said ejectingmeans having a common operating member available at said pane1, of acasing cover movable to open position to permit access to said panel andmagazine chamber, movable to a closed position for enclosing saidmagazine chamber and covering said panel to render said common operatingmember inaccessible and provided with an opening through which saidoperating member may be observed.

12. In a photographic camera of the magazine type, the combination witha casing providing a magazine chamber and having a panel adjacent saidchamber and provided with an opening, an

on-aui index mark on said panel adjacent said opening, and an indicatingmeans comprising a rotatable spindle, a friction shoulder on one end ofsaid spindle, an operating member axially movable on said spindle andincluding a peripheral rim and a peripheral sector extending from saidrim, said peripheral rim being provided with a notch at one end of saidsector, a spring member normally urging said operating member againstsaid friction shoulder and through the opening in said panel, and aplurality of graduations on said operating member and arranged toregister with said index mark, of an ejecting means comprising an armintermediately pivoted, having one end for engaging said operatingmember and having its other end movable into said magazine chamber fordisplacement of a film magazine upon axial movement of said operatingmember, an abutment on said casing and for engaging the other end ofsaid peripheral sector to stop said operating member in onepredetermined position, and a stop member on said casing for engagingsaid operating member to prevent axial ejecting movement thereof untilsaid operating member has been moved to a second predetermined positionwith the notch in said peripheral rim in registry with said stop member.

GRAYSON O. HELBING. ALOYSIUS E. LECHLEI'INER.

